DR. RICHARD MASCOLA, PAST ADA PRESIDENT, DIES AT 68

Abstract

Dr. Richard F. Mascola, a past ADA president who fought for the rights of dentists to practice without third-party intrusions, died May 28 after a six-month bout with cancer. Dr. Mascola would have been 69 years old in July.A service for Dr. Mascola was held May 31 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. A second service and the burial were held June 11 in Farmingdale, N.Y.Dr. Mascola and his wife, Betsy, were married for 38 years, and they had three children: Richard, Michael and Elizabeth.After earning his bachelor's degree at the College of Holy Cross (Worcester, Mass.) in 1958, Dr. Mascola served as a U.S. Navy pilot until 1963. He received his dental degree in 1968 from New York University's College of Dentistry, where he went on to complete graduate studies in prosthodontics. He later opened a private practice in Jericho, N.Y., and was attending prosthodontist at Nassau County Medical Center in Mineola, N.Y., and the Catholic Medical Center in Jamaica, N.Y.Dr. Mascola got involved in organized dentistry early in his career, serving as president and later as executive director of the Queens County Dental Society. He held a number of posts with the New York State Dental Association, including membership on its Board of Governors in the late 1980s.On the national level, Dr. Mascola chaired the ADA Council on Communications in 1994 and represented the Second District (New York) on the Board of Trustees from 1994 to 1998. Dr. Mascola served as ADA president-elect in 1998 to 1999 and as president in 1999 to 2000.“Richard was president during my freshman year on the ADA Board,” said current ADA President Dr. Richard Haught. “I very much admired his ability to lead, and his dedication to dentistry.”After his presidency, Dr. Mascola sold his dental practice and worked briefly for the ADA. He and his family then moved to Florida, where he taught part time at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. This year, students honored Dr. Mascola with their Golden Apple Award, given each year to their favorite faculty member. They also dedicated the yearbook to him. Dr. Richard F. Mascola, a past ADA president who fought for the rights of dentists to practice without third-party intrusions, died May 28 after a six-month bout with cancer. Dr. Mascola would have been 69 years old in July. A service for Dr. Mascola was held May 31 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. A second service and the burial were held June 11 in Farmingdale, N.Y. Dr. Mascola and his wife, Betsy, were married for 38 years, and they had three children: Richard, Michael and Elizabeth. After earning his bachelor's degree at the College of Holy Cross (Worcester, Mass.) in 1958, Dr. Mascola served as a U.S. Navy pilot until 1963. He received his dental degree in 1968 from New York University's College of Dentistry, where he went on to complete graduate studies in prosthodontics. He later opened a private practice in Jericho, N.Y., and was attending prosthodontist at Nassau County Medical Center in Mineola, N.Y., and the Catholic Medical Center in Jamaica, N.Y. Dr. Mascola got involved in organized dentistry early in his career, serving as president and later as executive director of the Queens County Dental Society. He held a number of posts with the New York State Dental Association, including membership on its Board of Governors in the late 1980s. On the national level, Dr. Mascola chaired the ADA Council on Communications in 1994 and represented the Second District (New York) on the Board of Trustees from 1994 to 1998. Dr. Mascola served as ADA president-elect in 1998 to 1999 and as president in 1999 to 2000. “Richard was president during my freshman year on the ADA Board,” said current ADA President Dr. Richard Haught. “I very much admired his ability to lead, and his dedication to dentistry.” After his presidency, Dr. Mascola sold his dental practice and worked briefly for the ADA. He and his family then moved to Florida, where he taught part time at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. This year, students honored Dr. Mascola with their Golden Apple Award, given each year to their favorite faculty member. They also dedicated the yearbook to him.